crisis and absolutism in europe landscape with merchants (1630), by claude lorrain
TRANSCRIPT
Crisis and
Absolutism in Europe
Landscape with Merchants (1630), by Claude Lorrain
• Reformation created Opposites & Conflict– Protestants and Catholics battled for
territory & authority
– No room for compromise• “only one TRUE faith”
– Compounded by Monarchies• One Ruler promoting One Faith
• Belief of Nobles?
I. Wars of Religion
• French Wars of Religion (1562-1598)– Monarchy, vast majority of subjects
were Catholic
– Half of nobility were Huguenots• French Protestants influenced by
Calvin
– Peasants side with Huguenots. Why?
Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre(1630), by Francois Dubois
I. Wars of Religion
I. Wars of Religion• French Wars of Religion (cont.)
– After many battles, Huguenots win
– Henry of Navarre• Political leader of Huguenots
• Takes throne as Henry IV
• Converts to Catholicism, why?
• Edict of Nantes (1598)– Catholicism still official religion…
– But Huguenots free to worship, hold public office
Henry IV
I. Wars of Religion• Militant Spanish Catholicism
– Philip II, the “Most Catholic King”, wanted more control over his lands
• Used religion to do so
• Resistance in Spanish Netherlands– Calvinists destroy Catholic statues
– William the Silent, prince of Orange
– 12yrs of war = Dutch independence
• Spain has large empire (where?)
• But also very large debtKing Philip II of Spain
I. Wars of Religion• The England of Elizabeth
– Inherits throne from “Bloody” Mary
– Repeals Catholic-Friendly laws
– Sought to balance power of France and Spain
• If one seemed to be gaining power, she favored the other
– Led to war with Spain• Spain wanted a Catholic England
• Spanish Armada failsQueen Elizabeth I of England
I. Wars of Religion• The Thirty Years War (1618-1648)
– Battle over religion, politics, territory– Begins in Holy Roman Empire
• Calvinists nobles (Protestants)– Ignored by Peace of Augsburg
• Hapsburg Emperors (Catholic)
– France, Spain, others get involved• Struggle for European dominance
– Devastated German people, land– Peace of Westphalia (1648)
• All German states able to choose religion
– France now dominant, end of H.R.E.Battle on the Charles Bridge (1648), Petri Krohn
II. Rise of Absolutism• Religious crisis creates need for
stability– Requires strong rulers that resist
change
• Absolutism– System where ruler has total power
– “Who put this guy in charge?”• Justification: Divine Right of Kings
– King receives power from God
– Responsible only to God
II. Rise of Absolutism• King Louis XIV of France
– Rise to power• 1643:Louis takes throne, age 13
– Cardinal Mazarin rules for him
» Stops rebellion, strengthens crown
» Dies when Louis is 23
– Louis XIV takes complete control
– Builds myth of “Sun King”King Louis XIV, the “Sun King”
II. Rise of Absolutism• King Louis XIV of France (cont.)
– Palace at Versailles (VURH-sigh)
• Personal household of King
• Many nobles moved in as well– Louis encouraged it. Why?
• Place where powerful subjects came to find favors, offices
• Center of elite French culture– Examples?
The Palace at Versailles
II. Rise of Absolutism• King Louis XIV of France (cont.)
– Religious Policy• Goal: maintain religious harmony• Anti-Protestant policies
– Hoped to Convert Huguenots– Destruction of churches, schools– Huguenots flee
– Economy & War• Adhered to mercantilistic policies• Waged four wars for fame, land• On deathbed: Regretted war,
overspendingReception of Le Grand Condé at Versailles,
by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1878)
III. Changes in England• English Revolution
– Tudor Dynasty ends, enter James I• King of Scotland
• Believed in Divine Right of Kings
• Role of British Parliament?– Roots from Magna Carta
– Assumed King shares ruling power
• Puritans (English Calvinists)– Wanted less moderate Church of
England
– Gentry, landowners, ParliamentKing James I of England and Scotland
III. Changes in England• English Revolution (cont.)
– Charles I• Supports Divine Right of Kings
• Refuses power to Parliament
• Imposes more religious ritual
– Many Puritans head to America
• 1642: Civil War
– Cavaliers: support King Charles
– Roundheads: back Parliament
» Led by Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell
Charles I
III. Changes in England• English Revolution (cont.)
– Oliver Cromwell• Defeats, executes Charles I• Cleans house in Parliament
– Abolished monarchy, declared England a commonwealth
• Frustrated by Parliament, set up military dictatorship
– Restoration• Cromwell dies, monarchy returns• Charles II: Catholic sympathizer• James II: Devout Catholic. conflict?James II
Charles II
III. Changes in England• Glorious Revolution
– James II had 2 Protestant daughters• His successor would be Protestant• had son with 2nd wife, a Catholic
– William of Orange (Dutch)• Son-in-law of James II (Mary)• Invited by English nobles to invade• “bloodless” Glorious Revolution• William and Mary are monarchs
– Accepted a Bill of Rights from Parliament
» Legitimized role of Parliament» Granted individual rights» No Catholic could be monarch
– Solidified Constitutional MonarchyWilliam and Mary
IV. Eastern Absolutism• 2 powerful German states emerge
• Prussia– Fredrick William the Great Elector
• Small, open land, no natural defense
• Builds 4th largest army in Europe
• Creates General War Commissariat– Levy taxes, oversees army
– Runs civil services
– Bureaucracy = chief tool for rule
• Son becomes King Frederick IThe Prussian State & Frederick William, the Great Elector
IV. Eastern Absolutism• Austria
– Hapsburg clan• No longer Emperors (H.R.E)
• Expand south & east (defeat Turks)
• Gain large territory, but never becomes absolutist state…
– Many different national groups
– Lack of common identity, culture
Seal of the Hapsburgs
IV. Eastern Absolutism• Absolutist Russia
– Continual expansion (p. 446)
– Ivan IV (“Ivan the Terrible”)• First czar, Russian for “Caesar”
• Crushed power of Boyars (nobles)
– “Time of Troubles” = anarchy
– Peter the Great, 1689• Claims Divine Right of Kings
• Determined to Westernize– Updates Army, founds Navy
– St. Petersburg = window to WestRussian Expansion, St. Petersburg, and Peter the Great
IV. Eastern Absolutism• Effects of Enlightenment in
Eastern Europe– Prussia
• Frederick I– Strong bureaucracy to serve King
– Strong state through strong army
• Frederick II (Frederick the Great)– Big army to watch over bureaucrats
– Abolished torture
– Limited free speech & religion
– Kept rigid class system, serfdomWilliam I and William the Great of Prussia
IV. Eastern Absolutism• Enlightenment in E.Europe (cont)
– Austria• Maria Theresa (Empress in 1740)
– Tried to centralize Austrian Empire
– Give more power to state
– ease conditions of serfs
• Joseph II, Maria’s son– Abolished serfdom, death penalty
– Absolute religious toleration
– Failure, alienates those he tried to help (too much too soon)
Maria Theresa and Joseph II of Austria
IV. Eastern Absolutism• Enlightenment in E.Europe (cont)
– Russia• Catherine the Great (1762-1796)
– Open to Enlightenment ideas of reform
– But does nothing, favors nobility over peasants
– Absolutist ideals help gain territory to the south and east
Catherine the Great of Russia